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The History of Shit Men . . .

I’m going to tell you a story. It’s about why my little illustrated men are called ‘Shit Men’.

People have been asking me ‘Why?’, so here goes . . . .

Back in early 2008 I had a very scary experience. For the previous 6 months I had been escalating up a cycle of mania and come February 2008 I had a terrifying breakdown.

I had never ever experienced such intense terror. The fabric of my reality was ripped to shreds and everything I understood about lifewas dissolving and slipping away from me at a rapid rate, leaving me groundless, disoriented and very, very frightened.

This breakdown shook me so fiercely it would take me until now (and still onwards . . .) to recover.

In 2009, after a year and a half of dramatic roller-coaster flies and dives, I was finally diagnosed ‘bipolar 1’, that’s the type of bipolar that has massive out there highs and massive in there lows

I was terrified of being put on a psychotropic medicationthat would crush my spirit and have me become dependent (fears that stem from me being an insulin dependent diabetic) And, I also had a growing understanding of the metaphysical aspects of illness and disease. Therefore I refused all medications. It took me super human strength to stand my ground and do so. Quaking in the shadow of determined psychiatrists who are wanting to ‘put you in hospital’ is thee most scary thing I’ve ever experienced.

I stated clearly that super human ‘NO’ and instead was put under the observation of a crisis team – and there my REAL healing journeybegan.

For the next few years or so I continued to struggle deeply with living, with staying alive, with facing my deamons, with managing voices and visions in my head. I honestly look back now and wonder how the hell I got through some of the places I’ve been.

But one of the ways I’d get through would be through writing. Journalling. I would write and write and write. I would write everything down. I would write RAGE-PAGES, and then tap/EFT through their contents. I would sleep for hours. Some days for 20 hours a day. I was EXHAUSTED and highly anxious. I was suffering with ‘agitated depression’, meaning I was not numb at all. My depressions were savage and lively.

Whilst travelling through this phase of my life I experienced so many freaky anxieties, particularly around others. My whole system and aura was attuning to frequencies and vibes I’d never been able to perceive before and I just didn’t know how to handle it. I developed crippling social fears and paranoias. I never thought I would ever be ‘ok’ again.

By 2011 I was living with two flat mates. Living with all ‘the noise’ inside me whilst trying to fit in around others was, I’m sure, what was costing me so much energy. (I still experience this now but am getting stronger) (note – my flatmates were truly wonderful in many ways)

I would often find myself trying to figure out the invisible energies that were at play between me and others. I was always trying to figure it out because the voices in my head were telling me that it was ME. Depression feeds off of that.

So, in my journal, after figuring out that I couldn’t decode what was happening between me and others, I decided to see if I could illustrateit with little stick men.

Here Shit Men were born. I was attempting to ‘see’ how energies were acted out, distributed, projected, owned, disowned. I saw it as ‘dark energy‘ and renamed it ‘Shit’. I wanted to see how ‘shit’ got moved!

That’s me recognising my shit

It’s nothing to do with me, it must be YOU!

Ummmm . . . .

I wanted to understand when shit was being given to me

I wanted to be able to see what ‘shit’ was mine and what ‘shit’ wasn’t.

I started playing around with nice shit . . .

freaky shit . . .

just playful shit

I was getting some fun out of my ‘trying to understand’ shit!

Fun back then was rare. Shit wasn’t.

And then one day a Shit Man with a HEART instead of shit happened

I’d found a playful way to lighten my inner and outer paranoias and investigations. I’d doodle here and there. Whenever I’d get completely perplexed over a communication I’d draw it, see if I could understand it. When I felt good I’d draw it. I started to ‘see’ the feelings I was trying to integrate.

This was all to help myself. To help me stop beating up on myself. Remember, I was regularly in deep agitated depressions, or, strung out angry manias.

And then after my initial investigations into ‘shit’ I forgot about drawing Shit Men for a while.

I was starting to recognise and deal with shit better. But I wasn’t free (still am not)

Then I got my iPad.

And it started all over again. I’d found a medium I could lose myself in – water colour apps. Then I started drawing Shit Men again, but this time just ‘express‘ what I was feeling. It felt so good to be able to draw how and what I was feeling. It was mega relief.

I started being able to recognise when LOVE was at the core of my states, and when it was just pure fear.

My drawings were becoming a main part of my healing. Without me noticing the ‘shit’ was gradually getting replaced by ‘hearts‘.

So, even though, nowadays mostly my Shit Men have hearts, they are still called ‘Shit Men’. They’ve been with me through my journey of Shitness. They have super sonically helped me connect with myself, love myself and find humour and relief if the darkest places.

I always imagined that if I’d start sharing them as artwork, cards, that I’d like to donate 10% of anything made to a mental health charity like MIND. This is something I’m still playing with . . .

Thanks for reading x and to all of us who have ever struggled, will ever struggle, or know someone else who struggles with mental illness (so, that’s all of us then) may me and my Shit Men wish you love, support and blessings in your journey. It’s a tough one I know. But when it’s good, it’s good. Don’t be afraid to enjoy those good times. keep it real, BE your TRUE self and find a way to express and share your shit man x

Loved reading this journey lex. I feel bad that I wasnt a better friend to you. I am so proud that you stood your ground and followed your own path, even though it wasn’t easy and may we’ll have been if you had taken their mess, but you wouldn’t have been true to yourself and that would have been the bigger sadness. You are a truly beautiful lady lexi and many can learn from you. Love the shit men and love you xxx

Hi Schlemecky! Yes! What a journey hey x it has taken me super human power to follow my own path, and you’re right – I wouldn’t have it any other way. And the journey continues . . . . sending you lots of love and peace to Cornwall x are you still in Cornwall? Are you enjoying it? We’re practically neighbours Beks x x